White women's tears and racial oppression of women of color

¶ … byAccapad (2007) "When White Women Cry: How White Women's Tears Oppress Women of Color." The analysis is conducted by a careful review of the article and the study of Privileged Identity Exploration (PIE) model. Since PIE model is used to interpret the case that has been presented in the article, it was appropriate to understand the model in depth. The analysis will have a structured format having sections. Section I will elaborate the topic of article along with its credentials and research question. Section II highlights the procedures adopted by the author in presenting the research study. Section III outlines the method used by Accapad to analyze the situation/case study. Section IV will briefly state the major conclusion of the article and section V will include personal reflection of the article.

The Topic

"When White Women Cry: How White Women's Tears Oppress Women of Color" is written by Mamta Motwani Accapad and the article is focused on analysis of tensions that emerge from intersection of social identities. Gender and race are main identities discussed whereby race is assumes the dominant part of discussion. The author intends to explain how racial privilege of white women benefits them when dealing with women of color. Before being published, the article was reviewed by experts of the field. Being peer reviewed, the article provides a usefulknowledge resource. The article being in PDF format was sourced from internet through an online journal database.

The article does not carry an explicit research question being posed by the author to further investigate the answer to that question. The article however builds a hypothesis that intersection of gender and race, two important factor of our identity, does create complexities and two races, white women and women of color have been taken as reference races. The focus of article is on investigating the privileges that women of white race enjoy and use as tool of racial oppression while interacting with women of color. In order to build the case, the author presents a context that describes how identities of race and gender interact with each other and how societal norms are developed through these interactions. The author describes the topic and major emphasis of the study and then succinctly elaborates how the article will proceed in its theoretical explanation regarding intersection of women of white race with women of color.

The Procedures

The study is not quantitative therefore dependent and independent variables were not identified by the author. For the same reason, sampling plan was also not disused and only a single case study, a case of conversation between white woman and woman of color, is described. The application of Privileged Identity Exploration (PIE) model is also on the context of this case. No quantitative construct is used for research purpose. The article does not describe collection of data or a synthesis of other studies. The article after brief explanation of main purpose of study proceeds to provide the context of social identity creation. While presenting the context, the author does provide reference to previous studies on race, identity, and gender as constructs of social identity. The reference to other studies is within the article and no previous study on the topic has been synthesized. The previous work that the author cites while presenting the context of intersection between racial and gender identities, is relevant and supports the viewpoint developed in the article. For this purpose, the author introduces and describes the 'one-up/one-down identity' concept that explains white women's identity being associated to one privileged and one oppressed aspect. Women are oppressed and white being privileged.

The Method of Analysis

The article adopts Privileged Identity Exploration (PIE) model to analyze the privileged identity behaviors. PIE model is a qualitative construct developed by Watt (2007) on the basis of qualitative data such as reaction papers and personal narratives as well as interviews. After presenting the context of gender and race intersection in identities of white women and women of color, the author narrates the case study. The case study revolves around a dialogue between Anita, a woman of color and Susan, a woman of white race. There are some comments by Anita in context of treatments with people of color that Susan describes as 'offensive' and starts crying. The author uses PIE model as a tool to dissect the privileged notion of white race that Susan took offence to and started crying. Out of eight elements of PIE model, this article uses four qualitative elements that are denial, rationalization, false envy, and benevolence to deconstruct the privileged behavior of Susan.

Replication of procedures adopted

The procedure adopted in the article is not convenient to apply or repeat in any other case since it does not identifies dependent and independent variables and also the article vaguely applies a context to a reference. However, if empirical and qualitative validation of applied procedure is not required, the procedure adopted can be imitated in other studies. The method can be adopted in our social settings as well where racial and gender discrimination in normal practice. We can apply the general approach adopted by the author to understand our behaviors regarding gender, white race, and other discriminations. The author relies in inductive reasoning and strength of premises of arguments is most likely thought to hold the conclusion true but not a guarantee for the truth of conclusion reached. In fact, the model on which the case study analysis rests, the PIE model, is itself build on key an assumptions such as that exploration into privileged identity is an on-going process and not complete yet ii) privileged identity consciousness cannot be attained in totality iii) engaging in difficult dialogue is part of unlearning social oppression. Thus the conclusion drawn from applying such model shall not be considered as final and unalterable.

Personal reflection

There are number of strengths of the article. Firstly it presents the arguments is simple and understandable format. Complex terminologies of identity are not used that helps in grasping the content. The methodology being used in the article is also simple to follow and replicate the case of 'Anita and Susan' with other difficult dialogues that take place in our daily lives. The article is short and briefly describes the context before approaching the main argument. The model being used is also strength as PIE model is based on an extensive study using qualitative data. The article however may not be sound methodologically. Though it is easy to replicate the case study with general difficult discussion in everyday life, the methods section is not included in the article and uses only a brief case study that only involves two people. Thus complexity of multiple person dialogue may also not be assessed through such simple application of PIE model.

Agreement with interpretation

I do agree with the interpretation since in a general setting of difficult dialogues, own can apply the method adopted by the author. The key elements of PIE model are helpful in describing the privileged identity phenomenon. The use of elements of PIE model is simple and has been applied appropriately by the author. The conclusions drawn are also consistent with the events of case study as the conclusion provides the background as to why Susan acted in the manner which she did and what motives she was trying to serve. Thus, the interpretation may not be applied to complex setting of dialogues; they are relevant to general dialogue settings.